Having Trouble Remembering Which Drive is Which? Name Your Flash Memory Cards

[Jason Dunn]

Here's a problem most of us probably have: if you use a memory card reader with more than one slot on it, you'll end up with several removable disk drives in your My Computer view. It will probably look something like this:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/memorycard-naming-01.gif" /><br /><br />The problem is, which one do you click on to access the Flash memory card you just put in? This quick tip will allow you to fix this problem in just a few seconds...<!><br /><br />1) Insert the Flash memory card into your memory card reader - <b>make sure there's no pictures or data on it!</b><br /><br />2) Figure out which drive letter corresponds to your memory card - this may take some trial and error<br /><br />3) Once you've figured it out, right-click on the drive letter and select Format<br /><br />4) You'll see a screen like the one below appear:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/memorycard-naming-02.gif" /><br /><br />5) Give the card a name by typing it in the Volume Label field. I name mine by listing the capacity and the type of card (1 GB CF, 512 MB SD), etc. Quick Format should be selected<br /><br />6) Click start, and the card will be formatted and given the volume name you chose<br /><br />7) When it's finished, click Close, and you'll see that the card is showing up with it's new name. This name is permanent and will show up the next time you insert the card into the memory card reader. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/memorycard-naming-03.gif" /><br /><br />Remember that if you format your memory card with your camera, it will remove the volume name and you'll need to repeat this procedure.

[Mike Temporale]

You should be able to rename the volume without formating the drive. Try right clicking on the drive and selecting Rename. Then type in the new volume name.

[rlobrecht]

You can also rename it in the properties window for the drive.

I've noticed that some of my cards come named, and that some cameras name them (if you format it with the camera.)

[sylvangale]

LOL... I should do this. Instead I just click random letters...

Nice tip!

[Tim Williamson]

Great tip! Dunno why I never thought of this.

[Jason Dunn]

You can also rename it in the properties window for the drive.

Actually, I can't do that - I see the form field, but I can't type anything in there. Not sure why.

[Jason Dunn]

You should be able to rename the volume without formating the drive. Try right clicking on the drive and selecting Rename. Then type in the new volume name.

True, but you can't type in very much info - I can't fit CompactFlash for instance. :-) With the method I've described, when you put in the card in any reader, in any computer, you'll see the size and type of card.

[Mike Temporale]

You should be able to rename the volume without formating the drive. Try right clicking on the drive and selecting Rename. Then type in the new volume name.

True, but you can't type in very much info - I can't fit CompactFlash for instance. :-) With the method I've described, when you put in the card in any reader, in any computer, you'll see the size and type of card.

Oh, you're right! Renaming the drive doesn't actually change the volume name. :? Why would Microsoft do that? It makes sense if you rename the drive, you should actually be changing the volume name. Instead they have to store and track these names in a local file.

Ya, you're method is the best option.

[sylvangale]

You should be able to change the label via command prompt (DOS) without formatting. Just type in label /? for instructions.

[Tim Williamson]

You should be able to change the label via command prompt (DOS) without formatting. Just type in label /? for instructions.

It worked!!! Thanks for this tip! :D

[rlobrecht]

You can also rename it in the properties window for the drive.

Actually, I can't do that - I see the form field, but I can't type anything in there. Not sure why.

That's really strange. I don't have a removable drive here to try it, but I can rename my C: drive that way. Of course you have to be an administrator to do it. If I do it with my normal user, it still lets me type in that field, but then I get an Access Denied when I click OK. I'm running XP Tablet with SP2, FWIW.

[Jason Dunn]

That's really strange. I don't have a removable drive here to try it, but I can rename my C: drive that way.

Yeah, I can rename my hard drives that way, but not the drives from the reader. It might differ based on the brand and model of the reader.

[BulkHedd]

Well, I tried this with the Smart Media cards for my Olympus C4000Z and when I put the card back into the camera I couldn't use it unless I formatted it with the camera. Bummer.

[Mike Temporale]

Well, I tried this with the Smart Media cards for my Olympus C4000Z and when I put the card back into the camera I couldn't use it unless I formatted it with the camera. Bummer.

Camera's only recognize FAT16 (some may accept FAT32) so make sure when you format the card you pick FAT16 as the file system. If you do NTFS or FAT32 the camera or portable device might not be able to handle it.

[Jason Dunn]

Another reason why labeling the card is better than the drive letter: when I detached my USB card reader and later connected a USB flash drive, since the drive letter was the same, it gave the name to the USB flash drive (CF Card) in this case. Not good. ;-)

[Suhit Gupta]

That's really strange. I don't have a removable drive here to try it, but I can rename my C: drive that way.
Yeah, I can rename my hard drives that way, but not the drives from the reader. It might differ based on the brand and model of the reader.
I am having an even weirder problem. I have the identical 8-in-1 Sandisk card reader, both at home and at work, and I can very easily rename the volumes at home but not at work. Both have basically identical hardware setup (except at home I have a RAID 0 setup).

Suhit

[Wojo]

What I've done is created shortcuts from my desktop to the specific drives and then assigned icons.

1. Open "My Computer"
2. Right click the drive and select copy
3. Right click on your desktop and select "Paste Shortcut"
4. Right click the shortcut and select "Properties"
5. Under the "Shortcut" tab click "Change Icon"
6. Now select an icon to represent this drive

You can also rename the shortcut.

Wojo

[Suhit Gupta]

I've actually just resorting to memorizing which slot is which. And it isn't too hard since I only use the SD (H: ) and CF (I: ) slots. :)

Suhit

[ctmagnus]

As did I. Also, I went into Disk Management and removed the drive letters for the slots I don't use.

[Suhit Gupta]

As did I. Also, I went into Disk Management and removed the drive letters for the slots I don't use.
Oh, actually that is a good idea. I just never thought of removing certain drive letters, like memory stick and all its infinite variations.

Suhit

[swilcox]

Three cheers and a tip of the proverbial hat. An *excellent* tip!

[hawkeye]

I've followed Jason's instructions but Windows Explorer doesn't show the card with the new volume label. Windows Explorer still shows it as "Removable Disk"

However, the command prompt lists the new volume name. This is on a W2K laptop from work.

Anybody have any ideas :?:

[OSUKid7]

I've gone a step further, assigning icons to my flash drives.
My Computer (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/12845/mycomputer.PNG)

I used IconTweaker (http://joost.endoria.net/icontweaker/), but I'm sure many other applications can do this as well.

(And yes, I really do have local drives up through M: ;) - may have even more after I get some time to re-partition and load linux.)

edit: replaced the img with url tags...sry for stretching the page.

[Jason Dunn]

I used IconTweaker (http://joost.endoria.net/icontweaker/), but I'm sure many other applications can do this as well.

Wow, cool! I've always wanted to change the "unchangeable" icons, but never found a way to do it (I didn't look all that hard though, I'll admit it).

[Jason Dunn]

I've followed Jason's instructions but Windows Explorer doesn't show the card with the new volume label. Windows Explorer still shows it as "Removable Disk"

Is this on a built-in card reader, or an external one? Try disconnecting the card reader, ejecting the card, then re-connecting the reader and putting the memory card back in...

[OSUKid7]

Wow, cool! I've always wanted to change the "unchangeable" icons, but never found a way to do it (I didn't look all that hard though, I'll admit it).Yeah, I accidentally installed the 9x drivers (on my XP machine :roll: ), and other than making most of the card reader not work, it was cool cause SanDisk included those custom icons. I did some searching, and found that program to allow me to change them. :)

[hawkeye]

I've followed Jason's instructions but Windows Explorer doesn't show the card with the new volume label. Windows Explorer still shows it as "Removable Disk"

Is this on a built-in card reader, or an external one? Try disconnecting the card reader, ejecting the card, then re-connecting the reader and putting the memory card back in...


This is using a PCMCIA adapter. Is Windows Explorer is just recognizing the adapter and not paying attention to the volume label of the attached storage?

I'll try using a USB reader to see if anything changes.

[Jason Dunn]

This is using a PCMCIA adapter. Is Windows Explorer is just recognizing the adapter and not paying attention to the volume label of the attached storage?

Yes, that would be my assumption.